The industry’s contribution to Moldova’s GDP is planned to increase from 8.2% in 2023 to 11.5% by 2028, and the export of industrial products is to increase by 25%.
Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Dumitru Alaiba stated this, noting that industry is the heart of a healthy economy, but for too long this industry has been in decline, and its contribution to GDP fell from 40% in 1991 to 8.2% in 2023. According to him, for the first time in decades, the government has a concrete plan, a clear vision for the development of the industrial sector, and the authorities will make the industry grow through specific measures under the National Industrial Development Program. It is planned that the average salary in the industry will increase by at least 27%, more new safe and well-paid jobs will appear, in particular, the processing industry will create 15% more jobs. Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization noted that the authorities have identified priority sectors for industrial development. “Moldova has significant competitive potential. We believe that we can be competitive in pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery and auto components, textiles and apparel, building materials, food processing, etc.,” he said. In addition, clear measures for growth were provided. It is planned to introduce a set of effective actions, such as developing a mechanism of state assistance for investment in the processing industry, capitalizing financial instruments and programs of the Entrepreneurship Development Organization (ODA), improving policies and capacity for better access to the labor market, attracting productive investments, creating safe and well-paid jobs, development of industrial infrastructure. “Our government is committed to European integration and building a strong economy. We develop industry, create jobs and promote exports to the EU for a prosperous future!” emphasized Dumitru Alaiba. Earlier it was reported that the government approved the National Industrial Development Program for 2024-2028. This policy document defines the strategic vision and main directions for the development of the processing industry in the medium term. The program is aimed at improving management and institutional modernization of the industry, mobilizing capital and labor, stimulating production and the transition to a green economy. It is planned to develop the electronic, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, the production of automobiles and auto parts, the textile and clothing industries, the production of building materials, and the food industry as a priority. The program contains a set of measures to stimulate investment in industry and simplify access to qualified labor, increase innovation and competitiveness of the processing industry, etc. The program provides for the optimization and strengthening of existing investment platforms – free economic zones and industrial parks, as well as the creation of new specialized eco-parks and the creation of multifunctional industrial platforms. ODA tools will be used to support enterprises in the industrial sector. The program also contains measures to stimulate the employment of the active but not employed population - the unemployed, housewives/househusbands, citizens who work abroad or who plan to become guest workers, people employed in the agricultural sector, as well as residents of the Transnistrian region and foreigners. A separate package of measures concerns the greening of industry, stimulating circular economy projects and providing banks with “green” credit lines to finance industrial enterprises. For the implementation of the first stage of the program in 2024-2026 about 333.3 million lei will be required, of which 31.5 million lei will come from the state budget, the remaining funds will be covered from external assistance. By 2026, it is planned to introduce a series of amendments to legislation, strengthen the capacity of conformity assessment structures, invest in laboratories of institutions that conduct technical tests, analyze the effectiveness of free economic zones, optimize at least one such investment platform, stimulate clustering in the industrial sector, stimulate guarantees and lending to the processing industry through ODA program tools, etc. // 19.06.2024 - InfoMarket.
